Introduction Singapore is made up of a
multi-racial demographic with many different cultures and social
customs. A small island, this relatively young country has developed
into a bustling hub of technology, arts and finance in the centre of
Southeast Asia within decades. One can easily adapt to its diverse
culture, lifestyle, customs, food and activities. All international
festivals and occasions are celebrated with equal enthusiasm and
excitement. International cuisines of different nationalities are also
available at various food outlets.

It's natural for anyone to
take some time to adapt to a new environment and culture. The following
address a few points to help make the process a little easier.SinglishA
person relocating to Singapore for better opportunities should get
acquainted with our native languages for better communication. Singlish
is a predominant slang here - a local form of English which also
consists of words from different languages like Malay and Chinese, as
well as Chinese dialects like Hokkien and Cantonese. For example,
sentences here may be accented and ended with ‘lah', in similar fashion
to how some Canadians may end their sentences with ‘eh'. Cost of Living Most
expatriates are often offered competitive salaries with additional
benefits like bonuses and recreational facilities. Other examples of
said benefits include an entertainment allowance, payment of school
fees, housing, childcare and a transportation allowance. With these
subsidies, expatriates may find housing, transportation, food and education costs relatively cheaper than in their own countries.Taxes & Taxable IncomeTaxes
in Singapore are regulated by the Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore
(IRAS). All Singaporeans and expatriates employed here are required to
pay income tax. The income that is taxable comprise of profits earned
from profession and business, income from fulltime as well as part-time
work, interest earned from annuity and pension, dividends earned from
company shares, property rent and royalty.

Housing in SingaporeWhen
moving to Singapore for the first time, Expatriates usually rent a
private apartment or house. With this in mind, it's not surprising to
find expatriates concentrating in certain areas that have a wide variety
of condominiums to choose from.

Consider the following factors when looking for a property for the first time in Singapore:

- Budget for rental- Type and size of property you want to live in- Distance to work and transportation links- Proximity to international schools if you have any young children - Restaurants and entertainment options to spend your free time in the neighbourhood- Distance to the airport, if you or your partner plan or have to travel often

Budget and Property PricesRental
prices fluctuate heavily depending on the supply and demand of
available units. With constant development and upgrading within such a
small land area, home and property prices can be rather steep, with many
expatriates opting to rent instead. These prices vary greatly,
depending on many different factors like location, amenities, and size
of the home.

The following table gives a rough idea of the current price range you can expect:LOCATION PROPERTY TYPE RENTAL RANGE

For the latest prices, check our rental listings at PropertyGuru.com.sg

Property Type - House vs. ApartmentTypical
condominiums in Singapore have a multitude of facilities - e.g.
swimming pools, gyms, tennis courts, playgrounds, BBQ pits, etc. They
are also usually within a walled compound with security guards. Do note
that because plot sizes here are relatively small, only the very
luxurious landed properties have pools and other facilities.

For
somebody moving from a colder climate, please remember that Singapore
has a tropical climate, with more small animals and insects around than
what you may normally be used to. These tend to cause more problems in
landed properties, especially those close to high density areas of
flora. If your budget allows however, there are also some nice bungalows
that will give you the luxury and privacy that a condominium would not
be able to.

HousekeepersVarious
reliable housekeeping agencies here offer quality cleaning services for
offices, apartments and homes. The two prominent housekeeping services
companies in Singapore are the Housekeeper's Management Services and the
Association of Singapore Housekeepers.

TransportationSingapore
has one of the most modern and efficient public transportation systems
in the world, and travelling from any point on the island to another
does not take long under normal conditions.

Car ownership can
be expensive here, but the roads are well maintained and somewhat less
congested than in many other cities. Public transportation is also very
effective, but tends to be more concentrated in areas where locals live (HDB estates). In any case, unless you live along the edge of Singapore, your commute would rarely exceed one hour.

The main options for getting around are:

Mass Rapid Transport (MRT)Singapore's
metro/underground train system currently has three lines, with the
fourth partially finished. The map below shows the locations of each MRT
station as well as details of the distance to the closest MRT station
for each listing. Fares range from S$1 to S$2.10, depending on the
distance travelled, and if you've had to switch from a bus, and vice
versa. The map can be found at
http://www.smrt.com.sg/trains/images/tn_networkmap_big_030811.jpg

BusSingapore
also has an extensive bus network that covers a much larger area than
the MRT. Calculated by the distance travelled, fares can range from
S$0.71 to as high as S$4, depending on differing factors like distance
travelled, and the type of bus service taken. More details on the bus
services and the routes covered can be found at
http://sbs.streetdirectory.com.sg/sbs/sbsindexsn.jsp?map=1.

TaxisTaxis
here are generally plentiful and relatively cheap, compared to many
other developed countries. Fares can start from S$2.80 to S$5.00,
depending on the type of taxi one hails or calls. This would probably be
the transport of choice for most single professionals living close to
the city centre. It can sometimes be difficult to get one during peak
periods, and additional charges apply for phone bookings and certain
hours.

Private CarsOwning a car here is
more expensive, compared to many other countries, and is not really
necessary here on a whole. Most save money by using a taxi; however,
owning a car gives you the freedom to move around - and heading up to
Malaysia every now and then for a round of golf might be a strong enough
reason to get one.

Singapore is densely populated and traffic
may slow down especially during peak hours. However, the infrastructure
helps to smooth out some of the issues and public transportation on the
whole is still considerably better than in some of the neighbouring
countries. If you still intend on purchasing a car however, but be aware
of additional charges that comes with owning one:

Purchase Price
- Cars here are probably the most expensive in the world due to import
duties and Certificate of Entitlement (COE - a permission to own a car
for 10 years, after which it has to be renewed).

Road Tax
- Depending on the size of the engine, you need to pay road tax
annually. This can vary from a few hundred for a small car to thousands
for an SUV.

Electronic Road Pricing (ERP) - A
fee is charged during peak hours (from S$0.50 to a few dollars) to
access certain roads and areas (mostly in the Central Business District
(CBD)). ERP locations can be found at www.lta.gov.sg/motoring_matters/motoring_erp_location_cbd.htm

Parking
- Though there are parking charges in most locations in Singapore,
please note that parking in the CBD can be especially expensive.
Condominiums usually have parking charges included in the maintenance
fee (which is paid by the landlord).

Petrol -
It may come as a surprise, but petrol is probably the smallest component
of your car ownership costs. It is currently around S$1.80 / litre.

You
will also need to convert your driver's license into a Singaporean one
within the year. This is a relatively straightforward process, but will
require you to take the basic theory test. Please note that the traffic
flow in Singapore is on the left side of the road (as in UK and
Malaysia).

Schools & ChildcareThere
are a multitude of schools of great repute in Singapore, including over
370 childcare centres, offering affordable and high quality childcare
services.

We also have many international schools in Singapore
to cater to the needs of expatriate children. For most large groups, you
have a choice of sending your children to a school which follows your
national curriculum while being taught in your native tongue. We've
listed the main international schools in Singapore below - please check
their websites for more information.

Australian International School 1 Lorong Chuan, Singapore 556818 http://www.ais.com.sg/

We have provided some other useful websites for additional school matters:Directory of Local Schools - http://app.sis.moe.gov.sg/schinfo/SIS_DirSvc.aspStudying in Public Schools - www.croxxing.com/english/info_overview.html - in germanFee Structure Public Schools - www.croxxing.com/english/info_fees.html - in german Ministry of Education - www.moe.edu.sg/Foreign Student Information - www.moe.gov.sg/esp/foreign/ and www.moe.gov.sg/csc/csc_admission.htm#ForeignForeign Student Admission Application Form - http://www.moe.gov.sg/education/admissions/international-students/CQT Application Form - www.moe.gov.sg/esp/foreign/CQTForm.pdf - not working and can't find a replacementAdvice for Expatriates to Place Children in Local Schools - www.moe.gov.sg/esp/eduinfo/School Terms and Holidays - http://www.moe.gov.sg/schools/terms-and-holidays/

Pet RelocationThere
are certain restrictions imposed for the relocation of a pet brought
from places other than England, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand.
These pets are quarantined for around thirty days. The completed license
has to be submitted two weeks in advance before the import. An amount
of S$50 is charged for every pet.

There is also a ban on Pit
Bulls, Tosas, Akitas, Dogo Argentinos, Fila Brazilieros and Neapolitan
breeds in Singapore. The Animal, Meat & Seafood Regulatory Branch in
the Singapore government can be approached for obtaining detailed
information on import regulations.